The Christmas Story

Title: The Christmas Story

Text: Luke 2:1-20

Luke 2:1-20 Luke 2:1 Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. 2 This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city. 4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, 5 in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child. 6 While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

8 In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. 10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; 11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 "This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." 13 And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased." 15 When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, "Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us." 16 So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. 17 When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.

I. The Story is true

II. The Story is miraculous

III. The Story is worth repeating

IV. The Story is worth Pondering

V. The Story is cause to celebrate

Before we get going I just want to say how much I appreciate Pastor Henry. His willingness to step back in and minister here has been a huge blessing to me, and to all of us. I am so grateful that he is willing to preach- although I really had to twist his arm to get him to preach again.

Please turn in your Bibles to the gospel of Luke, chapter 2.

How many of you have a Christmas tradition of watching A Christmas Story- that movie with Ralphie- ever year? Be honest? I love that movie. Why do we all love that story so much? I think it’s because on some level we can all relate. How many of you wanted, or had a BB-gun growing up? How many of you almost shot your eye out?

How many of you can relate with the dad cussing out the furnace? All of us had a dad like that… some of you might still be a dad like that. It wasn’t the furnace with my dad, but wallpaper. I still have images, and words seared into my memory from when my dad wallpapered the living room. I think my mom might have taken us out of the house when he wallpapered my room. To this day I have a fear and aversion to wallpaper.

Well today we’re not going to focus on A Christmas Story, but on The Christmas Story.

The Christmas story is a familiar one to most of us. We have heard it over and over again since we were young. It’s a story that we are so familiar with that sometimes we get a little tired of it. I had a pastor once who would preach from the epistles, or other random scriptures during Easter and Christmas. He had been preaching a long time and I guess had gotten bored with preaching from the gospels. But during those times of the year I really wanted to hear The Christmas Story.